The Princess Nun: Bunchi, Buddhist Reform, and Gender in Early Edo Japan (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

The Princess Nun tells the story of Bunchi (1619–1697), daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo and founder of Enshōji. Bunchi advocated strict adherence to monastic precepts while devoting herself to the posthumous welfare of her family. As the first full-length biographical study of a premodern Japanese nun, this book incorporates issues of gender and social status into its discussion of Bunchi's ascetic practice and religious reforms to rewrite the history of Buddhist reform and Tokugawa religion. Gina Cogan's approach moves beyond the dichotomy of oppression and liberation that dogs the study of non-Western and premodern women to show how Bunchi's aristocratic status enabled her to carry out reforms despite her gender, while simultaneously acknowledging how that same status contributed to their conservative nature. Cogan's analysis of how Bunchi used her prestigious position to further her goals places the book in conversation with other works on powerful religious women, like Hildegard of Bingen and Teresa of Avila. Through its illumination of the relationship between the court and the shogunate and its analysis of the practice of courtly Buddhism from a female perspective, this study brings historical depth and fresh theoretical insight into the role of gender and class in early Edo Buddhism. This book tells the story of Bunchi (1619-1697), daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo and founder of Ensh?ji. Bunchi advocated strict adherence to monastic precepts while devoting herself to the posthumous welfare of her family. As the first full-length biographical study of a premodern Japanese nun, this book incorporates issues of gender and social status into its discussion of Bunchi's ascetic practice and religious reforms to rewrite the history of Buddhist reform and Tokugawa religion.0Gina Cogan's approach moves beyond the dichotomy of oppression and liberation that dogs the study of non-Western and premodern women to show how Bunchi's aristocratic status enabled her to carry out reforms despite her gender, while simultaneously acknowledging how that same status contributed to their conservative nature. Cogan's analysis of how Bunchi used her prestigious position to further her goals places the book in conversation with other works on powerful religious women, like Hildegard of Bingen and Teresa of Avila. Through its illumination of the relationship between the court and the shogunate and its analysis of the practice of courtly Buddhism from a female perspective, this study brings historical depth and fresh theoretical insight into the role of gender and class in early Edo Buddhism This Book Tells The Story Of Bunchi (1619-1697), Daughter Of Emperor Go-mizunoo And Founder Of Enshmji. Bunchi Advocated Strict Adherence To Monastic Precepts While Devoting Herself To The Posthumous Welfare Of Her Family. As The First Full-length Biographical Study Of A Premodern Japanese Nun, This Book Incorporates Issues Of Gender And Social Status Into Its Discussion Of Bunchi's Ascetic Practice And Religious Reforms To Rewrite The History Of Buddhist Reform And Tokugawa Religion. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Bunchi's Birth And Early Childhood -- 2. Bunchi's Marriage -- 3. Bunchi's Buddhist Education -- 4. Bunchi, Isshi, And Reform -- 5. The Monastic Body, Desire, And Sex -- 6. Reclusion And Spatiality -- 7. Enshoji: Surroundings And People -- 8. Discipline And Community At Enshoji -- 9. Precepts And Ordination At Enshoji -- 10. Bunchi At Court. Gina Cogan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [277]-289) And Index. THE PRINCESS NUN: Bunchi, Buddhist Reform, and Gender in Early Edo Japan Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Note to the Reader Introduction 1. Bunchi’s Birth and Early Childhood 2. Bunchi’s Marriage 3. Bunchi’s Buddhist Education 4. Bunchi, Isshi, and Reform 5. The Monastic Body, Desire, and Sex 6. Reclusion and Spatiality 7. Enshōji: Surroundings and People 8. Discipline and Community at Enshōji 9. Precepts and Ordination at Enshōji 10. Bunchi at Court Conclusion Appendix: “Chronicle of Universal Gate Mountain” List of Characters Bibliography Index Harvard East Asian Monographs The first full-length biography of a premodern Japanese nun, The Princess Nun is the story of Bunchi (1619-1697), daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo and founder of Enshōji. The study incorporates issues of gender and social status into its discussion of Bunchi's ascetic practice to rewrite the history of Buddhist reform and Tokugawa religion.